Ex-UCLA player Gerald Madkins joins Clips' front office

The Clippers completed an overhaul of their basketball operations department by hiring Gerald Madkins as director of basketball operations Monday. He will report to Gary Sacks, the recently appointed vice president of basketball operations.

Sacks replaced Neil Olshey, who left the Clippers during the offseason for the general manager's position with the Portland Trail Blazers. Madkins joined the Clippers after spending two seasons in a similar role with the New Orleans Hornets.

Madkins, 43, is a former UCLA standout who also played in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Golden State Warriors.

He later served as an assistant coach at UCLA and as head coach at Cal State Stanislaus.

The Clippers' media day is Friday and their first day of training camp is Saturday.

- Elliott Teaford

Lakers' Blake out 3 weeks

Lakers guard Steve Blake will be sidelined for at least three weeks after puncturing his left foot on a spike strip in a parking garage.

The veteran point guard will be held out of any impact exercises for about three weeks. The Lakers opens training camp Oct. 1, with its first preseason game Oct. 7.

Newly acquired center Dwight Howard also won't be participating immediately in Lakers camp while recuperating from offseason back surgery.

Blake is expected to be Steve Nash's backup this season. Blake averaged 5.2 points and 3.3 assists last season for the Lakers in his second season with the club while primarily backing up Derek Fisher and Ramon Sessions.